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What are examples of bisphosphonates?

By Matthew Perez

Bisphosponates such as risedronate (Actonel), alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva), zoledronic acid (Reclast), and pamidronate (Aredia) are used to treat and prevent osteoporosis—or, bone thinning—which occurs when the bones lose calcium and other minerals that help keep them strong and compact.

Which drugs belong to the bisphosphonate class of drug?

The following drugs belong to the bisphosphonate family:

  • Actonel or Altevia (risedronate)
  • Fosamax (alendronate)
  • Boniva (ibandronate)
  • Reclast or Zometa (zoledronic acid)

Is denosumab a bisphosphonate?

Bisphosphonates are drugs that help prevent or slow down bone thinning (osteoporosis). They can help to treat some types of cancer that cause bone damage. Doctors also use a drug called denosumab as a bone targeted treatment.

Is prolia a bisphosphonates?

Fosamax (alendronate sodium) and Prolia (denosumab) are used to treat and prevent osteoporosis. Fosamax is also used to treat Paget’s disease. Fosamax and Prolia belong to different drug classes. Fosamax is a bisphosphonate and Prolia is a monoclonal antibody.

Is Evenity a bisphosphonate?

Evenity is a sclerostin inhibitor and Fosamax is a bisphosphonate that is a specific inhibitor of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Side effects of Evenity and Fosamax that are similar include joint pain, headache, swelling of extremities, and weakness.

Is Forteo a bisphosphonate?

Fosamax and Forteo belong to different drug classes. Fosamax is a bisphosphonate and Forteo is a synthetic parathyroid hormone.

What type of drug is denosumab?

Denosumab injection (Xgeva) is used Denosumab injection is in a class of medications called RANK ligand inhibitors. It works to prevent bone loss by blocking a certain receptor in the body to decrease bone breakdown. It works to treat GCTB by blocking a certain receptor in the tumor cells which slows the tumor growth.

Is Xgeva considered a bisphosphonate?

Hypercalcemia caused by cancer Hypercalcemia occurs when there’s too much calcium in your blood. To use Xgeva, you must have already tried a type of drug called a bisphosphonate, which helps prevent the loss of bone mass. Zometa is a bisphosphonate.

Is reclast a bisphosphonate?

Ibandronate (Boniva) and zoledronic acid (Reclast, Zometa) are bisphosphonates; denosumab (Prolia) is a monoclonal antibody. Bisphosphonates interfere with the activity of osteoclasts, bone cells that are involved in normal remodeling.

Is Prolia a biologic?

Prolia is a so-called monoclonal antibody — a fully human, lab-produced antibody that inactivates the body’s bone-breakdown mechanism. It’s the first “biologic therapy” to be approved for osteoporosis treatment.

Which is better Evenity or Prolia?

This review also found that Evenity may be more effective than Prolia for preventing hip fractures or other non-spinal fractures. Also, the active drugs* in both Evenity and Prolia are recommended in current treatment guidelines for osteoporosis in females who’ve gone through menopause.